(a)the steps taken by the Government to implement the Building and Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services) Act, 1996;
(b)whether any fund has been allocated by the Government for the welfare of the labourers engaged in construction sector;
(c)if so, the details thereof; and
(d)the number of labourers benefited from the said fund during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL, MINES, LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)
(a): The Central Government has framed Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Central Rules, 1998, constituted Central Advisory Committee, notified appointment of Director General (Inspection) under the Act. The Union Government has been issuing instructions to the States for speedy and proper implementation of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Cess Act, 1996 from time to time at appropriate levels.
The Central Government has also issued directions under Section 60 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 asking, inter-alia, the States to mandatorily provide welfare schemes for the workers
covering death benefits, accident benefits, funeral assistance, education assistance, pension for persons not able to work due to old age/ disability, medical insurance, assistance for purchase of tools, skill upgradation, maternity benefits and grant for repairs and construction of houses.
(b) to (d): The Central Government has not allocated any fund for the welfare of the labourers engaged in construction sector.
The State Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Boards constituted by the States under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, are mandated to provide various welfare and social security measures for the construction workers. To augment the resources of the Boards, cess @ 1% on the cost of construction incurred by employers is levied and collected by the State governments and transferred to the Board.
As per the information received from State Governments, the total amount of cess collected as on 31.03.2014 is Rs. 14099.16 crore, out of which Rs. 2382.15 crore has been utilized for welfare of construction workers.